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rretzler

rretzler

Joined March 2018

LibraryThing member rretzler

TinyCat library

Gifted. Geeky. Mom of sons. Wife. Bibliophile. Soccer fan. LEGO addict. Music lover. Technophile. Knitter. Whovian. Sherlockian. Ailurophile. Minecrafter. Art lover. Who is John Galt?
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Oathbringer by Brandon Sanderson
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rretzler
All-of-a-Kind Family | Sydney Taylor
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I tried to think of other books beyond Jane Eyre, Little House on the Prairie, Anne of Green Gables, Little Women, and The Witch of Blackbird Pond (annual treasures growing up) and came up with these three books (series):

1. All-of-a-Kind Family by Sydney Taylor
2. Ender's Game by Orson Scott Card
3. The Warrior's Apprentice by Lois McMaster Bujold

The first is from my childhood; the other two I read as an adult.
#tlt #threelistthursday @dabbe

dabbe #1 was a childhood fave of mine; I still have my book! I'm making a list, checking it twice, and I'll make it available to all whether naughty or nice! 😂 Thanks for sharing. 💚💙💚 4d
annahenke What a wonderful sublist of childhood favorites! 4d
rretzler @annahenke My copies of those books were so beat up after all the rereading! 3d
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rretzler
David Beckham: My Side | David Beckham
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1. I‘m not named for a person, but am named because of the curtains that my parents put in my room when I was born. They had blocks with the letters M,L,R, and Y. As our last name started with Y, they decided on Michael/Michelle or Robert/Roberta, and finally came up with the unisex Robin Lynn. 2. My older son is named after David Beckham, and my younger son is named after Kevin Keegan - Beckham and Keegan. #two4tuesday

TheSpineView Interesting story. Thanks for playing 6d
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rretzler
Untitled | Untitled
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When my sons were little, they played a soccer video game that had such great world music. We listened to it for many years, but I had all forgotten about it until Leftcoastzen shared Say Hey (I Love You). I thought I would share this playlist for all to enjoy. #tuesdaytunes. https://spotify.link/rnE8RS5rVHb

TieDyeDude Excellent! Thanks for sharing. 6d
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rretzler
Oathbringer | Brandon Sanderson
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1. Catch up on laundry and start catching up for past 4 years of non-input on LibraryThing and GoodReads.

2. Neurosurgeon - I was always fascinated with the brain. I'm not one - long story and not my best decision.

3. Not yet. Younger son taking classes this summer and we don't have his schedule yet. It will likely be a trip to a closer city like NY or Chicago or perhaps the beach.

4. Tagged ⬆️

#MotivationalMonday @cupcake12

Cupcake12 Thanks for joining in. Have a great week x 1w
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rretzler
Oathbringer | Brandon Sanderson
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I think it probably takes a special sense of humor, but, this one made me literally LOL! 🤣

Jari-chan 😂😂😂 1w
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rretzler
The Iliad | Homer
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I suppose it depends on what is meant by publication date. Here is an interesting article about The Iliad, which would have to be the earliest book I have read. https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/geneticists-estimate-publication-date...

BookmarkTavern That was a really interesting article! Thank you for sharing! 1w
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Oathbringer | Brandon Sanderson
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My older son talked me into reading Sanderson‘s Cosmere series, which is only fair since he‘s read everything I‘ve given him his whole life! Enjoying them even though I‘m in the middle of the longest part. I hope to have the series finished before the next book is out in December. #weekendreads

Deifio I'm starting a reread of the Stormlight archive. I feel like I've forgotten a lot. Have to be prepared for December! 1w
rretzler @Deifio I‘ve been listening to the audiobooks and I kind of wish I had been reading instead - I think I‘m missing some of the nuances. Fortunately, my son is filling me in somewhat. I think I may need to take some good notes so that I‘m prepared! 😁 1w
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rretzler
The Thursday Murder Club | Richard Osman
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Pickpick

#225 Interesting take on a classic whodunit. I listened to the audiobook, which I think was a mistake because I didn‘t like the narrator‘s voices, especially her non-native English speaker‘s voices. I thought the author did a great job of getting inside the heads of some of the characters, and the characters themselves seemed believable to me. I think I may reread the book on my kindle someday to see what I may have missed. Enjoyable. #2021. 4.0⭐️

humouress There you are!
I liked this one too; my husband bought it after we saw the author on the Graham Norton show. I have a signed copy sitting on my desk now for his Christmas present (but I might read this one first, too.) (After I've given it to him.) 😉
2y
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Miss Benson's Beetle | Rachel Joyce
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Random book from my TBR 📚. Day 8. #tbrpile

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rretzler
The Midnight Hour | Elly Griffiths
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1. Slow. 🙁. 2. The tagged book and A Counterfeit Suitor by Rosalind Thorne. Tagging anyone who wants to share.

TheSpineView Thanks for playing! 2y
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Cranford | Elizabeth Gaskell
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A random book from my TBR 📚. Day 7. #tbrpile

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Thrawn | Timothy Zahn
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A random book from my TBR 📚. Day 6. #tbrpile

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Book Love | Debbie Tung
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Pickpick

#224 Been meaning to read this graphic novel for a couple of years, and was finally able to borrow it from Overdrive. After reading, I immediately purchased my own copy! Such a cute book, and I‘m certain every litten can relate. The drawings were all black and white but were cute; it‘s the amusing content that really hit home! 5⭐️ just for peeking into my life! #2021

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Malice Downstream | Graham Thomas
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A random book from my 📚. Day 5. #tbrpile

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A random book from my TBR 📚. Day 4. #tbrpile

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Super Sad True Love Story | Gary Shteyngart
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A random book from my TBR 📚. Day 3. #tbrpile

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Winter Games | Rachel Johnson
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#wintergames2021 Just signed up and looking forward to it.

Clwojick Woohoo! Thank you for sharing 🖤🖤 2y
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rretzler
A Line to Kill | Anthony Horowitz
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Pickpick

#221. Modern version of Sherlock Holmes and Dr Watson, except Hawthorne is possibly more enigmatic than Holmes. I really enjoy Horowitz‘s fun and easily readable style; he‘s quickly becoming one of my favorite authors. 3rd & latest in the series, this was not my favorite, but still a very good book and full of surprises. More books to come as it ends on a small cliffhanger! Looking forward to the next one. #2021. 4⭐️

EvieBee That cliffhanger, right?!? I can‘t wait. 2y
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The Moving Toyshop | Edmund Crispin
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A random book from my TBR 📚. Day 2. Have had this one on my list for a long time. #tbrpile

CarolynM Gervase Fen❤ 2y
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A Memory Called Empire | Arkady Martine
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Taking a page out of @SilverShanica ‘s book and sharing a random book from my TBR pile. What a great way for me to get back into posting after a 2 year hiatus. Day 1. #tbrpile

Lucy_Anywhere I really enjoyed this one! 2y
rretzler @Lucy_Anywhere Been meaning to read if for awhile! 2y
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Fool's Fate | Robin Hobb
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Pickpick

I absolutely love Hobb‘s Realm of the Elderlings series. This was the final book of the Tawny Man Trilogy, and the 9th in the 16 book series. Hobb‘s writing is so enjoyable and I always feel as though I‘m visiting with old friends. She has a tendency to put her characters through the worst, but things mostly turn out fine in the end. Realm of the Elderlings as a series is far better than The Wheel of Time IMO. Start at the beginning. 5⭐️ #2019

rretzler And did I mention, it has dragons! 🐉 5y
TrishB Best fantasy series ever! 5y
rretzler @TrishB I think I would have to agree, although I'm also partial to A Song of Ice and Fire! I've been trying to read Robert Jordan's The Wheel of Time series because it was voted one of the best 100 novels/series on the Great American Read. I'm on the 4th book, and to me, it pales in comparison with Realm. I can't connect to the characters and the writing falls flat in comparison to Hobbs! (and Martin and Bujold) 5y
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readingjedi I'm currently reading Royal Assassin and I'm hysterically excited to know I've got so much more to come. What is the next trilogy? 5y
rretzler @readingjedi After the Farseer Trilogy, there is the Liveship Traders Trilogy, which is about a different set of characters. I actually liked it slightly better than Farseer. But then I liked the Tawny Man Trilogy, which goes back to the Farseer characters even better than Liveship! It‘s a fantastic series! Next up for me is the Rain Wild Chronicles, which goes back to the Liveship characters. Don‘t skip the non-Farseer trilogies. Happy reading 5y
rretzler @readingjedi The Fitz and The Fool Trilogy rounds out the overall series. The last book in it was published in 2017. I‘m really looking forward to the last 7 books! 5y
readingjedi @rretzler Thanks for the info! 🙂 5y
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Stop That Ball! | Marshall McClintock, Mike McClintlock
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I‘m halfway through a 900+ page book but wanted to share something today. For his Freshman Honors English class, my younger son had to bring to class a favorite childhood book. After some hunting in the basement, I found a book that was a favorite of mine from childhood and his too. We had to read this book to him over and over again. We loved the rhymes and the silly places that the ball went before coming home and then going on another journey!

rretzler If you have kids, is there a book that survived the years like this one did? Or even if you don‘t have kids, is there one that stands out from childhood? 5y
Deifio I loved McBroom and his wonderful One-Acre Farm. Such a fun book. I will definitely read it to my kids when they're old enough for it. 5y
rretzler @Deifio I had to look that one up - I think I was a little old for it, but it looks like a really fun book! 5y
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rretzler
A Beautiful Blue Death | Charles Finch
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Pickpick

I‘ve been enjoying the recently written prequels to this series, so I decided to read the first in the series. It is the author‘s first book and while it does show promise, it is clear that it is a first book. For instance, there is a frequently mentioned character who is never actually introduced to the reader who I believe is in the book just to be another suspect. There are other inconsistencies as well. Between a pick and so-so. 3.5⭐️ #2019

Crazeedi I've read 3 or 4 of this series, it does get better. Now I have to go see which one I'm on! 5y
rretzler @Crazeedi Good to know! I do like the prequels, so I can tell Finch has grown as an author. I‘m definitely sticking with them. 5y
Crazeedi @rretzler I've read 5 I just checked! And I thought same as you for first one. I haven't read the inbetweeners, I usually just skip those! 5y
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Tom Brown's schooldays | Thomas Hughes
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#NotBookRelated but I just had to share our back to school pics. Beckham is starting his last year of high school (even though he will be taking all of his classes at Ohio State University) and Keegan is starting his first year of high school (even though he had classes there last year.) Keegan got hurt in his soccer scrimmage last night and is on crutches for his first day back. He is questionable for his first game on Saturday but we‘re hopeful

TheAromaofBooks Go Buckeyes! :-D You must be close to my neck of the woods... I'm southeast of Columbus. 5y
rretzler @TheAromaofBooks We‘re in Dublin! 5y
IamIamIam Happy school year to everyone!!! 5y
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tammysue Great back to school pics! We go back tomorrow. 5y
night_shift We don't go back until next month 😱 great pics, have an awesome 1st day back! 5y
Leftcoastzen Nice photos ! When you raise boys there will be crutches, hope he heals quickly. 5y
rretzler @IamIamIam Thanks. When does your family start? 5y
rretzler @tammysue Hope you have a great year. 5y
rretzler @UnidragonFrag Thanks! Our school starts too early IMO and we‘re done before Memorial Day. 5y
rretzler @Leftcoastzen Thanks. I think it‘s just a bruised hip. The team has really great trainers and Keegan can be inclined to milk things a little, but I think he‘ll be back to normal soon. We‘ve been very fortunate so far! (Tempted to knock on wood at this point) (edited) 5y
IamIamIam @rretzler Not until September 4th 😫👎 Lol, we're packing as much as we can into the next 3 weeks!! 5y
rretzler @IamIamIam it slips by so fast. I think my brain is still back in June, I‘m so not ready for school to start. Hope you guys have a good year. 5y
IamIamIam @rretzler Thanks!! Hope Keegan has a good week despite the crutches and best wishes for a speedy recovery!! 5y
rretzler @IamIamIam Thanks! 5y
LibrarianJen Hope they have good weeks! I love working high school. 5y
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rretzler
Number Eleven: Whale Vomit | Colin Cotterill
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Pickpick

Jimm Juree Case Files are periodic short stories by the author of the Dr Siri mysteries set in Laos. The Jimm Juree stories are set in Thailand where the author now lives and are humorous accounts of the lives of a former crime reporter and her wacky family. This one deals with the murder of a pedophile and is apparently based on an actual person living in Thailand (who has not yet been murdered!) Fun read for fans of the author. 3.5⭐️ #2019

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Wilful Behaviour | Donna Leon
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I‘m reading the Guido Brunetti series for a LibraryThing group read. I really enjoy Leon‘s insight into Italian culture and government. This one was particularly interesting as it dealt mainly with Nazi stolen art in WWII and slightly on the Italian resistance (something more for me to learn about.) There is a solid, fairly well-plotted mystery as well, although the wrong person is punished IMO. Recommended series 4.0⭐️ #2019

Crazeedi I absolutely adore this series! I've read every one and can't wait till another one is out. I may have to reread and I never do that!!💖💖 5y
rretzler @Crazeedi I don't know why I had never read it before. I'm really enjoying it. The first couple I wasn't entirely sure about because there is a different sort of justice in the books sometimes - perhaps reflective of Venetian society? But I like Leon's style and the series has grown on me so I will definitely be reading them all! 5y
Crazeedi @rretzler why i like this series is for the reason you just stated, the book doesn't always end with the bad guy is caught. Definitely an Italian/ Venetian type justice system. I love brunetti's love of food, I love the secretary (her name escapes me this moment) 5y
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Greenglass House | Kate Milford
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Pickpick

Spotted this book that my boys never read and decided that I would. Milford creates an intriguing story and a haunting atmosphere. I enjoyed it, but there were a few things that could have been written differently: Milo's adoption is mentioned frequently but isn't essential to the story, and Milford switches back and forth between Milo and Meddy's names and their nicknames for each other which breaks the flow of the story somewhat. 4.0⭐ #2019

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Inspector Banks series #5. I started to read these long ago and then stopped for some reason. No idea why, as I enjoy(ed) Robinson‘s writing. Not too much to differentiate it between many other British police procedurals but it‘s a solid and enjoyable read, if you like the genre. Banks is an interesting but typically flawed character, and since I‘ve watched the ITV series DCI Banks, I won‘t be able to separate him from his TV character. 4⭐️ #2019

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Wednesday's Child | Peter Robinson
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1️⃣ Cabaret or The Sound of Music. I go around singing from them! 2️⃣ Too many to count - I tried and gave up at 400 😜 3️⃣ Hmmm- not really addicted to any games - so Flow Free maybe. 4️⃣ IFTTT on the web and as an app is amazing. Also Audible. 5️⃣ Newest followers: @bromeliad @CaitZ @bookful 6️⃣ #wondrouswednesday Thanks, @Centique for the tag

bookful 1) harry potter score 2) too many to count which I hardly go on there just there 3) most game play is wizards unite and Pokemon go 4)app helpful gps haha 5y
Eggs Thanks for playing 🤗👏🏻🎈 5y
Catt 1- “Somewhere in Time” score; 2- I started counting and after 50 I realized I don‘t want to know!; 3- Crossword Puzzles 5y
rretzler @Catt 😃 5y
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rretzler
Knock, Murderer, Knock! | Harriet Rutland
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Pickpick

A lesser known author of the Golden Age of Detective Fiction, Harriet Rutland only wrote 3 mysteries, this, her debut, in 1938. It was enjoyable, once I got past the many character introductions - 20 in the first 2 pages- which was almost enough to make me stop reading right then! The amateur detective wasn‘t introduced until late in the story, and he reminded me slightly of Allingham‘s Campion or Sayers‘ Lord Peter. I‘ll read more. 4⭐️ #2019

rretzler As an aside, I‘ve no idea why there are cats on the cover of this book! 😹 Plus the title is such an obscure part of the book, I had to really think about what it might mean after reading. 5y
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Knock, Murderer, Knock! | Harriet Rutland
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A little hard to see, but I just had a visitor while reading the tagged book! I think J‘zargo was trying to read it too! #catsoflitsy

brit91 Awww cute kitty!!😻😻 5y
Texreader What a cute photo and kitty!! ❤️😻 5y
PumpkinSpicedAlpaca Love his name so much! Khajiit names make the best kitty names! 🙀 5y
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LittlePixels "Khajit guards your back!" 5y
rretzler @PumpkinSpicedAlpaca @LittlePixels 😸 Gamers! I love it! One of our J‘zargo‘s primary skills is destruction too. 😹 But he‘s also affectionate and an excellent fetcher! 5y
LittlePixels @rretzler Yep. Most of my immediate family are both readers and gamers. I have many (many!) hours in Skyrim, on various platforms. I love your kitty's name! 5y
rretzler @LittlePixels Thanks! My older son named him. My cat is Mycroft. I am a gamer too, although not as much as I used to be. Both sons and my husband are gamers, but I‘m the only reader - my husband used to be (he doesn‘t game much anymore either) and my older son goes through reading spurts, but younger son is mildly dyslexic. He likes the idea of books, but not so much reading them. 5y
PumpkinSpicedAlpaca @rretzler My husband @xcarryonx has gotten into graphic novels lately for reasons very similar to your younger sons. Maybe he would enjoy them too! He finds graphic novel versions of everything he‘s interested in and reads those. We‘re both avid gamers too! It‘s so neat meeting other people with such similar interests! (edited) 5y
rretzler @PumpkinSpicedAlpaca Thanks! It is nice to meet others with similar interests! Yes, my younger son loves graphic novels - unfortunately we‘ve gone through most of the age appropriate ones. He‘s 14 so he‘s right on the edge between lots of middle grade stuff which is a little too young and the more adult graphic novels. I‘ve gotten him a few that are the graphic version of novels, and he‘s been okay with those. He does audiobooks for school too. 5y
rretzler @PumpkinSpicedAlpaca @xcarryonx I actually happen to be following both of you so I will definitely be on the lookout for graphic novel ideas for Keegan. I regular search the web for ideas as well as Amazon and B&N, but it‘s nice to have other actual readers as a source too! 5y
PumpkinSpicedAlpaca @rretzler I‘d imagine it‘s really difficult to find a balance between more adult or too young graphic novels. @xcarryonx has a whole bunch of holds at the library right now so if he comes across something good we‘ll definitely tag ya! ☺️ 5y
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Readathon: Occasional List : Geleentheidslys | Gauteng (South Africa). Education Media Service
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@TheReadingMermaid @Andrew65 @jb72 I‘ll try to join in but soccer is starting up and my younger son is at another tournament this weekend ⚽️📖💕

BeansPage No worries darling. Any reading that you do over the weekend can definitely be counted towards your goal. 😉 5y
Andrew65 Good luck with whatever reading you do get done. 😊👍 5y
jb72 It‘s all about having fun. Good luck to your son! 5y
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rretzler
Magpie Murders | Anthony Horowitz
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Pickpick

I knew I would like this when I picked it! This is a mystery inside a mystery - Susan is an editor and is reading over the latest book in author Alan Conway‘s Atticus Pünd mystery series, but she finds the last chapter missing from her review copy. As she investigates, she finds that there is more than just a missing chapter to discover. It reads very much like classic detective fiction and was an easy read. The action flows nicely. 4.5⭐️ #2019

Blaire Yes! I thought it was so well-done...especially for fans of classic mysteries. I also loved 5y
rretzler @Blaire I‘ve got that one on my TBR 5y
RaimeyGallant So good! 5y
rretzler @RaimeyGallant Can‘t wait to read more by Horowitz. 5y
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rretzler
Look to the Lady | Margery Allingham
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Pickpick

I‘ve been reading Golden Age Detective fiction for over 45 years, but somehow never read all of the Campion series. I‘ve no idea why, as I‘ve enjoyed what I‘ve read and loved the PBS Campion series in the ‘80s. I‘m rectifying that now by reading the series in order. Allingham is an intelligent and witty author. I loved the plot of this one and laugh at how everyone always underestimates Campion. Recommend for classic mystery lovers. 4.5⭐️ #2019

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rretzler
Holidays on Ice | David Sedaris
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Mehso-so

I‘m a big fan of Sedaris and have listened to nearly all of his books (read by Sedaris himself is the best way.) I love the stories he tells based on his life and his family. They both are heartfelt and hilarious. I‘m not always crazy about the fictional stories he writes. Many are a little too sadistic, perhaps, for my taste. And horrible things happening to babies and children gets a big 👎🏻. That‘s why this is a so-so for me. 3.0⭐️ #2019

rretzler Not to be missed are Santaland Diaries and Six to Eight Black Men. The rest perhaps are so-so, meh and some not at all good. 5y
KathyWheeler @rretzler Those were the only two I really loved. One story was downright offensive and the rest were just meh. 5y
rretzler @KathyWheeler I agree. I‘m guessing we perhaps found the same one offensive. I was actually a little sick to my stomach after reading one of them, and it takes a lot to bother me. 5y
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Blueberry I agreed also. Did not finish. 5y
rretzler @Blueberry Definitely disappointing as Sedaris books go. 5y
AutumnRLS This was my first Sedaris and I didn't care for it at all. Perhaps I should go back and read others based on this comment? What should I start with? 5y
rretzler @AutumnRLS I just finished Calypso and enjoyed it but I could relate to it because it‘s about getting older and taking care of aging parents. I recall I enjoyed Me Talk Pretty One Day, Dress Your Family in Corduroy and Denim, and When You Are Engulfed in Flames, but it‘s been years since I read/listened to them. I also recall enjoying Naked but I didn‘t like Squirrel Seeks Chipmunk. You could try listening to some of his stories/books on ⬇️ 5y
rretzler @AutumnRLS YouTube to see if you like them before investing in the books. I found both Me Talk Pretty One Day and When You Are Engulfed in Flames read by Sedaris on YouTube. IMO his “nonfiction” stories are the best - ones based on himself and his family. I don‘t particularly care for his fiction. 5y
AutumnRLS @rretzler I have When You Are Engulfed in Flame on a shelf and I think I have Naked in a box somewhere. Definitely will have to give him another chance. 5y
rretzler @AutumnRLS I read some of them the first time through, but I think they are much better when you hear him reading them. He has this deadpan delivery that makes it all the more hilarious. I highly recommend listening for the best experience 5y
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Pickpick

I thought this was an interesting take on a perhaps not so new sci-fi idea. I liked Melanie, the “gifted” girl and I found the philosophical question of the lengths one might go to in order to save the world interesting. However, I think there were a few logic errors when it came to the science of how the fungus worked which ultimately kept the book from being being a great read for me. Suspenseful in places but dragged a bit in others. 4⭐️ #2019

MySharonaK I agree with everything you wrote 🌸 5y
TheAromaofBooks Same! I keep meaning to reread this one and then read The Boy on the Bridge, but I just haven't gotten to it! 5y
rretzler @MySharonaK @TheAromaofBooks Glad to know I‘m not alone! I also have The Boy on the Bridge but I won‘t be in any big hurry to read it 5y
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Magpie Murders | Anthony Horowitz
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I‘m reading Horowitz‘s Magpie Murders and something in the book struck me and I‘m curious as to what others think. When writing historical fiction, should an author try to be accurate when it comes to the times they are portraying, or should they use the more humane and politically correct terminology even though it doesn‘t reflect accurately upon the times? I‘ve been enjoying this book but a particular phrase came to my attention ⬇️

rretzler ⬆️ which I was fairly certain was not accurate to the times. The historical part of the book takes place in 1955 and one of the characters has a brother with Down‘s Syndrome. I was born in the early 60‘s and recall the unfortunate term mongoloid to refer to people affected with this syndrome. It wasn‘t until the 70‘s that I recall hearing the term Down‘s syndrome. So I looked it up, trying to figure out if where I lived was particularly ⬇️ 5y
RachelS89 Interesting. I'm reading Once Upon a River by Diane Setterfield right now. It's set in the late 1800's. There is a character with down syndrome, and another character (a nurse) does use the word "mongol" in reference to him. The term down syndrome isn't used at all. 5y
rretzler ⬆️ backward or if this was an unfortunate part of those times. Apparently, the term Down‘s Syndrome wasn‘t used until the mid-60‘s so it wouldn‘t have been used in the book taking place in the 50‘s. I‘m not trying to make light of this and I do not like the term mongoloid, but my question is whether the author should be historically accurate despite the unfortunate nature of the ⬇️ 5y
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rretzler ⬆️ terminology or whether he was right in using the nicer and more politically correct term? Thoughts? 5y
rretzler @RachelS89 It‘s more historically accurate even though it‘s an unfortunate term. I definitely recall my mother speaking of the mongoloid child of some friends when I was small. I don‘t think my community used the correct terminology until the 70‘s 5y
TrishB It‘s a tough one isn‘t it because some people write a review and say they were put off the book by sexism/racism etc - but it‘s set 100 years ago and accurately portrays what it would have been like. Can‘t win 🤷‍♀️ 5y
wanderinglynn While I personally have no issues with using the historically accurate terms, there has been backlash against authors that do. Even backlash against books written in those time periods. So I can‘t blame the author for using the modern, correct term. 5y
RachelS89 That makes sense. On the one hand, I understand if authors want to avoid using older terms that they don't feel comfortable with, but using newer terminology in historical fiction makes a book seem inaccurate. 5y
rretzler @TrishB I always have to shake my head at reviews of a book written many years ago where the reviewer doesn‘t like it because of the sexism/racism, etc. Life was the way it was and we should be glad that things are changing, move on, and not fault the author for writing about their times. Sigh... I find it terrible that a children‘s award that had previously been named for Laura I Wilder was renamed because of her portrayal of American Indians 5y
rretzler @wanderinglynn It‘s unfortunate isn‘t it? 5y
wanderinglynn Agree. I mean people want to take correction tape to classics like Gone With the Wind and Tom Sawyer. For me, I think it‘s important to understand how life was for all groups during whatever timeframe the book is set in. First, the past is the past. Yes, bad things, even terrible things happened. But you can‘t whitewash it & pretend it was all pretty. Second, those who don‘t learn from the past are doomed to repeat it. That‘s my feelings about it. 5y
TrishB Agree. We have to learn and move on and be grateful that we can. 5y
RaimeyGallant Very interesting. 5y
rretzler @wanderinglynn I had actually been thinking along those lines. If we don‘t take the opportunity to learn about the past, we have no hope of changing the future. 5y
Aimeesue Depends on the context and the point of using/not using terms that would have been used in that era. TBH, "mongoloid" would've confused a lot of American readers. Not a term we used much, as far as I can tell, and I work for people with developmental disabilities. "Mentally retarded" would've been in common use at that time here. Unless there's a point being made about character through vocabulary they use, I don't think it's necessary to hew ? 5y
Aimeesue So closely to the language of the times that you use terms that are offensive today. But I'm not hugely bothered by the occasional use of historically accurate terms, either, unless they're egregious. I read this book and didn't even notice it, to tell you the truth. Err on the side of kindness, unless there's a point to it, I guess. 5y
rretzler @Aimeesue I‘m from small town Ohio and that‘s the term that was used in the 60s as far as I know all over Ohio as it‘s one that I was very familiar with. I think that‘s why the terminology struck me as I didn‘t hear Down‘s until the 70s. So I think people who are in their 50s and up in the US are probably familiar with the term. More of an generational unfamiliarity than a locational one, I think. And yes, sadly the term retarded was used as well 5y
Aimeesue @rretzler Possibly generational. I‘m in my 50‘s though and don‘t recall the term being used. Probably situational though. I didn‘t hang out in OB wards or have a lot of opportunities to overhear any discussion regarding such children. I don‘t think my family would have used it. Sounds more clinical than other terms like slow, Special or the like. 5y
SW-T I think it‘s a combination of things. Political correctness, general familiarity, and sometimes regional usage. Certain terms are familiar in a certain region, others to a certain age group. In this case, I think more people would understand Downs Syndrome than mongoloid. Not as accurate but might be more recognizable. 5y
rretzler @Aimeesue @SW-T My initial point was that the official terminology was actually mongol or mongoloid from the time Dr Down discovered the condition in the 1860s until the term Down‘s Syndrome was actually first used in 1965. Yes, if you were born after that time, or didn‘t know anyone who had the condition in those days then I guess you might not be aware of the correct terminology used at that time. 5y
Freespirit Love this literary debate. The term mongoloid was used here in Australia also. I don‘t mind the writing keeping in context with the period they are writing about . 5y
rretzler @Freespirit I kind of look on the historical accuracy as a learning opportunity as well. Although this was a mystery, as I told my husband, the author could have used the historical terminology and footnoted the term used today in order to teach us something about its history. Of course, that wasn‘t really the function of the book so I understand why he wouldn‘t have done that; I just feel it may have been a missed opportunity. 5y
Reggie I say use the terminology of the day. Marlon James writes this great book called The Book of Night Women and the N word is almost overused. He himself is black and remembering how angry I got when slave owners were using the word, I don‘t think it would have had the same effect as if he had used the word Africans the whole time. It is ugly but we also need to know and realize how horrible that time was. 5y
rretzler @Reggie I agree. Although this wasn‘t a book specifically about Down‘s - in which case most certainly the author should have used the historical terminology - I would still prefer the historical accuracy with perhaps a footnotes explanation even when this was only a minor plot point. I can understand why an author might be uncomfortable using historical terminology but I agree that we need to know so that we understand and perhaps bring change. 5y
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rretzler
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1️⃣ I read and reread Laura Ingalls Wilder‘s Little House series many, many times when I was little so when I was 10ish, my mother and I visited Missouri and Wilder‘s house. I‘m sorry to say it was a huge disappointment. I‘m sure there have been other book inspired vacations but that will always be the one I remember the most, other than reading James Michener‘s Hawaii while in Hawaii. 2️⃣ None planned. #Two4Tuesday

Ruthiella I‘ve never been to the Wilder house. Why was it disappointing? 5y
rretzler I guess it wasn‘t what a 10 year old expected it to be. It was a small farm house, the one she and Almanzo built after they married and moved to Missouri. There was nothing reminiscent of the Little House books at all, just an historic house like any other and not much to see. I‘ve no idea what I really expected but I guess I thought that there might be something that would relate to the character I knew from the books. It‘s bigger now I think 5y
TheSpineView I didn't realize her house was still standing. I would visit. Maybe it takes an adult perspective to appreciate it.🤔 5y
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rretzler @TheSpineView Perhaps. I was a fairly mature kid, though, and had visited other historic homes and enjoyed them. I think I just expected more ties to the Laura Ingalls Wilder of the books and there really weren‘t any. If I recall, we were only shown a couple of rooms and not even allowed to go upstairs. It may be now that they have expanded what they show. This was 45 or so years ago. 5y
rretzler @Ruthiella @TheSpineView Here is the link if you (and anyone else) are interested: http://lauraingallswilderhome.com 5y
TheSpineView @rretzler I don't think I would make a special trip just to see the house. If I was in the area I would most likely check it out. 5y
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I liked but didn‘t love it. I enjoyed the historical aspects - I learned about British female spies during WWI which was very interesting. The book was roughly based on a real female spy ring and it‘s leader. However, I felt that the author made a tenuous connection between the spy ring and WWII events. I think I might have enjoyed it more if she concentrated on the events and characters relating to WWI and not tried to add WWII. 3.75⭐️🤣 #2019

rmaclean4 I have wondered about this book. Thanks for the review. 5y
rretzler @rmaclean4 😁 It has a lot of love, but I‘ve noticed in Litsy reviews that there are those who feel similarly to me. Wasn‘t bad, but could have been better IMO! If you read it, I‘d love to know your thoughts. 5y
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I don‘t know if I feel comforted by knowing that there‘s an actual term for having a very large TBR pile or not! 🤣😜 📚

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Vacationers | Emma Straub
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Haven‘t been posting in the past week or so and the above is why. I‘ve got a ton of reviews to catch up on as I settle back in with laundry, taking younger son to soccer, and taking older son to college visits. #2019 #vacation

mabell Looks like you had a blast! 5y
rretzler @mabell We absolutely did! We visited the ruins of Chichen Itza, Tulum, and Cobá and also the parks of Xel-Ha and XCARET. Highly recommended! 5y
mabell @rretzler We couldn‘t devote the time to going to Chichen Itza, but we did tour Tulum. It was amazing and gorgeous with the ocean behind it! 5y
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rretzler @mabell The first time we went, without kids, we did just Tulum and Cobá and the tours were fantastic. This time I decided I didn‘t want to miss Chichen Itza and it was fantastic as well, but I was very disappointed in our tours of Tulum and Cobá. I guess it depends a lot on the tour company and the guide. 5y
Annl Loved Tulum when I went there. 5y
rretzler @Annl It was amazing, especially the first time we went! I wish our tour would have been better this time around. The guide had us stand in the shade for 20 minutes while he lectured on a variety of things, not all related to Tulum, and we had less than 10 minutes to actually look at the ruins. It was supposed to have been a tour for 1 hour 45 minutes but we were there about an hour and that included the bus to/from the parking lot. ☹️ 5y
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rretzler
Calypso | David Sedaris
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I couldn‘t just stop at one Sedaris listen. I‘ve had this for a few months so it was time. Like all Sedaris (with the exception of Squirrel Meets Chipmunk) it was laugh out loud funny!🤣My son wandered into the room to ask what I was laughing at. This one deals with middle-age and aging parents, so it really resonated with me. Listening is the best way to experience Sedaris. 4.0⭐️ #2019 🎧

alisiakae I agree! I loved listening to this one. 5y
rretzler @4thhouseontheleft I think he‘s touring now for this book - we‘re going to catch him live, my younger son‘s soccer schedule permitting. (edited) 5y
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rretzler
Live at Carnegie Hall | David Sedaris
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I‘ve been on an audiobook kick lately and needed a bit of humor. Sedaris is one of my go-to pick-me-ups and this one didn‘t disappoint. Very informative too - I learned that St Nicholas lives in Spain and was formerly the Bishop of Turkey. He arrives in The Netherlands by boat with backup from “6-8 black guys” in November to give presents on December 5 to Dutch children. 🤣🤣 I guess one has to listen-it‘s funnier when David tells it 😜4.5⭐️ #2019

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rretzler
The Wind in the Willows | Kenneth Grahame
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The classic - every time I read it, I realize how much I enjoy it! I wasn‘t crazy about the narrator of this audiobook though, I wish I had purchased another version. My favorite character is Mole, although I do love Toad and his motor cars - “poop poop!” The background above is from the TV adaptation I like the best. I followed along with a free ebook and unfortunately missed the wonderful Ernest H Sheppard illustrations. 4.5⭐️ #2019 🎧🧒🏼

IamIamIam I had a college professor who had us read this. The theme of our class was "The Landscape As Character" and when you think like that, some books really make an excellent use of that!! I just got a leather bound edition of this from Book Con... one of the only good deals we got! ? 5y
rretzler @IamIamIam I can see how the river is certainly a character in this one. What a fascinating class that must have been! Hope your new edition has the Shepherd illustrations. 5y
IamIamIam @rretzler You know, it would have been really fascinating if the professor hadn't sounded like Ben Stein and if it wasn't a MWF 8:30 class my freshman semester. 😂😂😂 I haven't cracked open my new edition yet but I'll keep you posted. I'm debating on reading it aloud to my daughter. Summer has been hard on our reading aloud schedule. 😖😴 5y
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rretzler @IamIamIam 🤣🤣🤣 My boys and I used to read together every night. Summers were definitely hard, but when my oldest entered HS, we couldn‘t figure out a reading schedule that worked with his study schedule. I miss reading together with them. Sometimes we read the same books at the same time, which is fun, but not the same. My younger son and I will sometimes listen to audiobooks together while I‘m driving him around (edited) 5y
TheAromaofBooks I love this book so much!! I am especially found of the edition illustrated by Tasha Tudor!! A fellow named William Horwood wrote three sequels, and it's one of the few times I've enjoyed sequels by the not-original author. It just felt like he really captured the essence of Grahame's delightful characters. (edited) 5y
rretzler @TheAromaofBooks I haven‘t seen those illustrations, I‘ll have to check them out. 5y
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rretzler
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This is one of two series from Ann Cleeves‘ back-catalogue. I enjoyed it. It is more along the lines of a classic detective story than Shetland or Vera, which are more “thrillery” (new word 😜) in comparison. More simplistically written, without all of the detail of her two more popular series, Cleeves still lays the groundwork for the mystery quite well. I did not guess who the murderer was - something I can usually do. 4.0⭐️ #2019 📱🕵🏼‍♀️

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rretzler
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Not book related but I bragged about my younger son‘s soccer, so I need to give my older son equal time. AP Scores came out today and he received perfect 5 in all three tests. Perfect 5s last year on AP US History and AP Bio and a 4 Freshman year for AP Chem. Still waiting on his IB exam results but I‘m confident he did well. The excellence continues! Great job, Beckham!

Bookwormjillk Wow, so impressed! 5y
AmyG Wow physics. Good job! 5y
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sudi That is seriously impressive 👏. And both of the physics subjects too 😮🙌 5y
KT1432 Excellent! 5y
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Amazons Audible Audio Books | Albert N Thomas
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I hope it‘s not just me, but the choices for the free Audible Originals this month seem particularly uninteresting. Not sure I‘m even going partake this month...if I have to chose I guess it will be Dinosaurs and NASA, which is unfortunate because nonfiction is my least favorite genre. ☹️

Prairiegirl_reading It‘s not just you. They are particularly bad this month. 5y
rretzler @Prairiegirl_reading So glad to know I‘m not the only one. The couple that I have taken the time to listen to already have not been great. First the credit debacle, now this. 5y
Prairiegirl_reading @rretzler it definitely isn‘t the selling feature they thought it would be. 😕 5y
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Bookwormjillk Meh. I wasn‘t impressed last month either. 5y
rretzler @Bookwormjillk The only month that ever really thrilled me was when they offered The Dispatcher by John Scalzi, but I already owned it. 5y
Kelly_the_Bookish_Sidekick These look underwhelming. I suppose I'd pick Screwball & Frenemies, if I was an Audible subscriber, but I wouldn't be excited for them. 5y
Lea I‘m irritated 5/6 are by men. (edited) 5y
Kaylamburson I am not interested in any of them. Every month I feel like I struggle to pick two I'm actually interested in. And even when I do, I feel like they almost always disappoint me. 5y
rretzler @Kaylamburson I so agree! 5y
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rretzler
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I‘m not big on short stories - some of them I love (Harrison Bergeron by Vonnegut is my favorite), but Scalzi is one of my favorite authors so I thought I‘d give this a listen on my way to becoming a Scalzi completist. Some of the stories are quite good and some just so-so. If you like Scalzi, it‘s definitely a pick. I think what I enjoyed most is hearing him introduce each story. His voice was unexpected, but nice. Overall 4.0⭐️ #2019 🚀 🎧

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I‘ve been a fan of Simon Pegg (and Nick Frost) for many years so I jumped at the chance to listen to this - read by Simon himself. It‘s no wonder I enjoy his work, we seem to have a lot in common. He relates his love for Star Trek and Star Wars (and The Young Ones) and talks about how Spaced and the Cornetto Trilogy came to be. If you‘re a fan, I highly recommend this listen. Also, please comment so I know there are others like me! 🤣 4⭐️ #2019

wanderinglynn Love Simon Pegg & his book & his movies. ❤️❤️❤️ 5y
wanderinglynn Plus, I thought he made an awesome Scotty in Star Trek! (edited) 5y
rretzler @wanderinglynn He did make a great Scottie! I wish there were going to be another Edgar Wright/Pegg/Frost collaboration - I would love to see it. (edited) 5y
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Bookwomble And, another like you 😁 5y
Deifio I love the Cornetto Trilogy! So another one like you 🤗 5y
rretzler @Bookwomble @Deifio Very cool! 😀 For Christmas, I bought my 17 yo son a Cornetto Trilogy hoodie, he loves to wear it to see how many people understand 🤣 (not many here in Ohio!) 5y
Bookwomble Have you seen "Paul", the alien road trip movie with Pegg and Frost? Great film ? 5y
UwannaPublishme I agree with @wanderinglynn He was perfect as Scotty! 🖖🏻 5y
rretzler @Bookwomble I have. I liked it, but not quite as much as the 3 Cornetto movies. 5y
rretzler @UwannaPublishme 😀🖖🏻 5y
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rretzler
The Fall of Hyperion | Dan Simmons
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This was probably NOT the book to listen to on audio, nor was it the sequel to wait a year to read. I enjoyed it, but I think I would have enjoyed it more had I read it immediately after Hyperion. Simmons‘ 🌎 building is amazing and he did a decent job of wrapping up from the first book but leaving some things wide open for the rest of the series. A little confusing at times but that could have been my inattention. Recommend series. 4⭐️ #2019

RichieNarvaez A great series to read! Literary and full of clever and well realized world building. 5y
rretzler @RichieNarvaez I wish I were a bigger fan of Keats. I think I‘m probably missing some of the more subtle allusions to his work in the books. The world building is superb though. My understanding is the the next books may turn things upside down a bit. I‘m thinking there might be a Terminator/Terminator 2 vibe about the Shrike that I sensed late in Fall. 5y
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